My thoughts on the Phillies season.

The Phils increase their winning streak to two games as they hold on in a close game to defeat the Pirates, 5-4.

The Phils hold on to win a close game with the Pirates as they increase their winning streak to two game, winning 5-4.

The Pirates tried to take the lead in the first as, with runners on second and third, and with one man out, Vance Worley, after catching Garrett Jones’ grounder back to the mound, threw the ball home for a fielder’s choice out, as Jose Tabata, who had started the game by being hit by a pitch, then moved up to second base on Neil Walker’s walk, before going to third on Andrew McCutchen’s ground out, 6-3, is tagged out by Carlos Ruiz for the inning’s second out, while Walker, who had earlier walked, and went to second base on McCutchen’s ground out, would move up to third, while Jones would be safe at first on the play. Worley then got out of trouble by getting Casey McGehee to hit into a force out, 6-4, wiping out Jones at first base. The Phils then took the lead in their half of the first as, with a man on third, and with two men out, Ruiz hits an RBI single, scoring Hunter Pence, who had just tripled, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead. The Pirates would tie the game up at one-all in the second as, with a man on third, and with one man out, Michael McKenry hits a sacrifice fly, knocking in Pedro Alvarez, who had started the inning off with a double, then moved up to third on Clint Barmes’ ground out, 6-3. The Phils retook the lead in their half of the second as, with two men on, and with two men out, Placido Polanco hits an RBI single, knocking in Mike Fontenot, who had earlier singled, then moved up to second base on Worley’s sacrifice bunt, 1-4, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead, before Jimmy Rollins, who had just walked, is thrown out trying to go to third base, 7-5-3, for the inning’s final out. The Phils added to their lead in the third as, with one man on, and with two men out, Ty Wigginton hits a two-run home run, his eighth home run of the season, knocking in Ruiz, who had earlier singled, giving the Phils a 4-1 lead. The Pirates would get a run back in the sixth as, with a man on third, and with two men out, McGehee hits an RBI single, knocking in McCutchen, who had earlier doubled, then moved up to third on Jones’ ground out, 3-unassisted, making it a 4-2 Phils’ lead. The Pirates then cut the Phils’ lead down to 4-3 in the seventh as, with two men on, and with nobody out, pinch hitter Drew Sutton hits an RBI double, knocking in Barmes, who had started the inning off with a walk, then stopped at second base on McKenry’s single, while McKenry, who had just singled, would stop at third base. After Michael Schwimer replaces Worley on the mound, the Phils would get out of further trouble as Tabata grounds out to the pitcher, 1-3, after Schwimer looks McKenry back to third, for the inning’s first out, then Walker flies out to left for the inning’s second out, before John Mayberry, Jr. throws a strike to home plate, as McKenry tries to score on the fly out, but is tagged out by Ruiz for the inning’s third out on a fly out-doubleplay, keeping the score 4-3 Phils. The Phils added to their lead in the eighth as Ruiz hits a lead-off home run, his tenth home run of the season, a career high, as he gives the Phils a 5-3 lead. The Pirates would get a run back in the ninth as, with one man out, McHenry hits a solo home run, his fourth home run of the year, making it a 5-4 Phils’ lead. But that would be the final score as Jonathan Papelbon would record his eighteenth save of the season by getting out the next two batter, as he got Tabata to end the game by striking out, swinging.

Vance Worley (4-4, 2.92) gets the win as he pitched six inning, plus three batters, as he gives up three runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out five. Michael Schwimer collected his first hold of the season as he pitched a scoreless inning, getting out the two men that he would face, thanks to a fly out-doubleplay. Antonio Bastardo collected his fifteenth hold of the season as he threw a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while striking out a batter. Jonathan Papelbon received his eighteen save of the season as he pitched an inning, giving up a run on a hit, while striking out two. Erik Bedard (4-8, 4.27) took the lost as he went six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out three. Juan Cruz pitched an inning, plus three batters, giving up a run on two hits and a walk, while striking out a batter. Tony Watson pitched an inning, getting out all three men whom he would face, striking out one.

The Phils had ten hits in the game, with Carlos Ruiz (2 Singles, Home Run, 2 RBIs) leading the team with three hits, followed by Placido Polanco (Singles, RBI) and Ty Wigginton (Single, Home Run, 2 RBIs) with two hits apiece. Hunter Pence (Triple), Shane Victorino (Single) and Mike Fontenot (Single) had the other three Phils’ hits. The Phils also had three walks and a stolen base (Victorino (18)) in the ballgame.

The Phils (36-40, 4th East) will continue their series with the Pirates (38-35, 3rd Central) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park and is to start at 7:05 pm. The Phils will send to the mound Raul Valdes (2-0, 1.84) who will be making a spot start, as the Phils plan to use the bullpen tonight. Valdes last pitched on June 23, throwing two innings in relief against the Rays, giving up no runs on a hit, while striking out four. Valdes hopes to keep the Phils in the game. The Pirates will counter with James McDonald (6-3, 2.19), who is coming off a complete game win against the Twins on June 21, as he gave up a run on six hits, while striking out five, in the Pirates’ 9-1 blow out. He will be trying to stop the Pirates’ present losing streak. The Phils will be going for the series win, while hoping that Chase Utley will be ready to go both on the field and at the plate.

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